Sam Simmons and Olathe North topped Wichita Heights, 65-58. (Photo: Isaac Fulks, 810 Varsity)
Olathe North continues its Cinderella run through the state tournament with a 65-58 win over Wichita Heights.
The No. 7 seeded Eagles defeated the No. 3 seeded Falcons Friday night at Koch Arena. O-North (18-6) will now have to face the reigning state champions and Sunflower League rival, Shawnee Mission Northwest at 4 PM on Saturday. North, in its fourth straight state tournament, had never made it past the quarterfinal in school history before this weekend.
Going into halftime the Eagles had claimed a 28-21 lead following a 12-0 run to end the quarter. Junior Sam Simmons had nine in the quarter and finished the game with 24 combined with senior Jaalan Watson’s eight in the quarter and 17 in the game.
The Eagles were able to pull away in the third with help from the Falcons putting them into the bonus in just under three minutes elapsed in the quarter. Heights also was a measly 3-for-11 from the charity stripe essentially giving the game to North.
Olathe North held a 54-38 cushion entering the fourth, but the Falcons wouldn’t go down without a fight. The Falcons were able to hold the Eagles scoreless for the first 3:18 before senior B.J. Boyd made a layup, two of his 11 points in the game.
With 1:34 left in the game, Heights was on a 9-0 run led by seniors Chase Robinson and Amalachai Wilkins to pull to 56-54. But a couple buckets and then with 51 seconds left, junior Cam Love made both free throws, putting the game on ice at 60-54.